File 1283/1913 Pt 5 'MESOPOTAMIA TRADE Issue of new Trade Report' [‎125r] (245/270)

APPENDIX No. VIII.
BAHRAIN.
Bahrain is agriculturally and commercially the most valuable district on the western
side of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . It is the principal pearl market in the Gulf and it is also
an emporium for general trade with the mainland, about one-third of the total goods
imported leaving the island again for the minor ports which serve the cases of Hasa and
Qatif and part of Nejd.
Imports .—The most important item of import are piece-goods, woollen goods, coffee
rice, sugar and tea. England and India kept the piece-goods trade almost entirely in their
own hands, but before the war American sheeting had gained a considerable place in popular
favour, and cloth of similar quality manufactured in India was unable to compete with tiie
American article. ^ At the present moment, Japan has taken the lead in supplying this
particular line of piece-goods and the Indian trade will suffer unless Indian mills can manage
to produce sheeting which will compete favourably with the Japanese article.
Coffee .—Before the war the greater part of the coffee in the years 1909-11 was Brazilian
imported in German ships, but Indian coffee was gaining ground in 1912-13. It now
monopolises the market.
Sugar.—'Hh.Q statistics appear to indicate a large rise of imports of sugar in German ships
in the year 1913, but owing to the fact that the figures were procured from the manifests for
the first time that year, it cannot be stated with certainty that the imports in German ships
before 1913 were not much greater than the figures in the trade reports appear to indicate
At the same time it is believed that the Germans made a special effort to import large
quantities of sugar in 1913 in view of the newly realised possibility of making large profits
on sugar smuggled from Bahrain to Persia.
i^.-Kice mostly comes from Calcutta; Rangoon rice being of inferior quality is not
so much in demand. The imports of 1914) were double those for 1913-14, but this is explained
by the fact that rice importation generally takes place in March or April and if the steamers
happen to arrive in April one year, and in March the following year, the imports by both
steamers would be included in one year's returns.
Tea .—The tea imported into Bahrain mostly finds its way to the Persian Coast and it is
only brought to Bahrain in order to evade payment of Persian customs duty. Tea is drunk
locally only by Persians and there is no indication that it has begun to come into general
favour among the Arabs here, as in Mesopotamia.
The total value of imports into the Bahrain Islands in 1913-14, excluding specie and
pearls, amounted to £989,378.
Exports .—Pearls are by far the most valuable item of export, the aggregate value for
the ten years ending 1909 being given as £6,827,009. It is, however, extremely difficult to
estimate the value of any given year’s export, since the merchants frequently export pearls in
their personal baggage and the figures are therefore deceiving. A member of a Paris firm
used regularly to visit ^ Bahrain for purchase of pearls and his profits in one year were
estimated at about six lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . The purchase of pearls is a highly specialised
branch of commerce requiring really expert knowledge and plenty of capital.
Having regard to the very great value of the pearl trade in the Gulf and to our
special political advantages at Bahrain, it is somewhat remarkable that no examination
has ever been made of the pearl beds by an expert trained in pearl oyster culture. The
Commissioners desire to recommend very strongly that a survey of the pearl banks should be
made as soon as circumstances permit.
The export of mother of pearl and oyster shells 'requires special notice, since shell export
formed the foundation of AVonckhaus' business originally in Liugah and afterwards in Bahrain.
Bahrain was the principal centre of the trade, though Lingah or Pars shells were also exported
to some extent. The Germans exported nearly £39,909 worth of sells to Europe in one year.
Messrs. Wonckhaus used to purchase shell at much higher rates than the British firms, Gray
Paul and Company could afford and they were doubtless enabled to do so owing to the favour
able shipping rates by the Hamburg-America line. Another point in their favour was the fact
that Hamburg was the market for shells used for buttons. It is important that the trade should
be kept in British hands in future and committees responsible for re-organising trade in
England after the war might keep in view the possibility of marketing the shell in England
instead of in Hamburg. Secondly, it seems probable that it would pay a British firm to
introduce disc cutting machines at Bahrain, since the export of discs would obviate the
necessity of shipping much useless shell. The Board of Trade inquiry in 1908 showed that
the necessary machinary could be obtained in Birmingham. Thirdly, if expert examination of
the pearling grounds could be made, some important light might be shed on the pearl shell
industry, since it is still uncertain whether, as believed by the Arabs, the fertility of the banks
is influenced adversely by the non-return of the empty shells to the sea.